Tag: Minnesota Vikings

I have had a few days to digest the Minnesota Vikings last minute victory over the New Orleans Saints, and have come up with my overall take on the game.

First of all, if the Vikings had continued to build on their early lead, and won hypothetically 28 to 7, their would have been no euphoria, nor miracle. It would just have been a great victory. Like wise if they would have lost by a decent margin, I think people would have chalked it up to the curse, especially with New Orleans.

I have been a Viking fan since 1961, when they joined the NFL, and have never missed a game either in person, on TV, or on the radio, so I have experienced many disappointments:

The four Super Bowl Defeats in the 70″s.

1975 Playoff Division game. Probably my most difficult defeat, was in the 1975 playoff division game at Metropolitan Stadium, when Roger Staubach threw a last minute Hail Mary pass, to Drew Pearson, for a touchdown to win the game. It was right in front of me, and Drew Pearson blatantly pushed off on Nate Wright. No call was made. So not only a playoff loss, but a terrible call.

1999 NFC Championship. The Vikings were 16-1 going against Atlanta. Field Goal kicker Gary Anderson had been 37 for 37 for the season, but missed a short one, late in the fourth quarter, that would have put the Vikings up by 10. Atlanta scored late to tie the game and won in overtime 30-27.

2010 NFC Championship. Brett Favre threw an interception late in the 4th, which led to New Orleans tying the game at 28 each. New Orleans won the toss and chose to receive. They scored and the Vikings never touched the ball.

2015 Division Playoff game. Game played outdoors in Minneapolis with a temp of -6 degrees. Seattle took the lead late in the 4th quarter 10-9, but the Vikings had a last minute 23 yd field goal attempt to win it, but Blair Walsh missed it.

Is it possible, that Stephon Diggs immaculate reception, exorcised all the demons, that Viking fans had called the “Curse”.

There is excitement all over Minnesota, from newspaper pundits, all the blogs, and sports talk radio programs about Teddy Bridgewaters return. This excitement is for the possibility of his return this week.

Bridgewater has been on PUP list since he injured himself, in July of 2016. The injury was not because of contact, however, the injury called for reconstruction of his knee.

Everyone knew he would be out all of 2016, and possibly 2017. It was also suggested, his career might be over. He has been on a advanced physical therapy regimen since the surgery, and could possibly be activated shortly(Nov. 10th) if agreed to by doctors, coaches and the general manager, following a workout / evaluation.
But remember: Be careful of what you wish for; you may get it. Here are some facts to possibly curb your enthusiasm, and pray the Vikings, don’t give him the starting nod, in the next game. Why not?

Bridgewater has not taken a snap, in two seasons. He has not been hit by NFL lineman, for two seasons. He hasn’t thrown a pass, with defenses charging him in two seasons, and he is not in NFL football condition, mentally or physically.
In his last season he played, ( 2015), here is how high he ranked in all the key categories:Total QBR : 88 – # 22 ranked of 32 ranked QB’s. Total Completions: 292 – # 21 ranked. Total Passing Yds: 3,200 – # 22 ranked. No. of TD’s: 14 – # 26 ranked.
I assure you these are not the numbers of a Franchise Quarterback, nor a Hall of Fame Quarterback.

Sam Bradford. He is currently injured, with no definite timetable for his return. He only played in the 1st game of the year, but was phenomenal, having a QBR of 124.4. That was a career best for Sam, and a best in the NFL. His stats for 2016 follow. Remember he achieved these results with an inefficient and porous offensive line, and virtually no running game.Total QBR : 100 – # 8 ranked of 32 ranked QB’s. Total Completions: 395 – # 5 ranked. Total Passing Yds: 3,877 – # 16 ranked. % Completed Passes: 71.6% – # 1 ranked.

Case Keenum. The backup to Bradford going into the 2017 season, but injuries to Bradford moved Keenum into a starting role. In the nearly 7 games he has played, he has been excellent. His Y-T-D numbers are as follows:Total QBR : 100 – # 8 ranked of 32 ranked QB’s. Total Completions: 395 – # 5 ranked. Total Passing Yds: 3,877 – # 16 ranked. % Completed Passes: 71.6% – # 1 ranked.
He has led the Vikings to a 6-2 record. leading the division.
So it’s time, for you to put on your general managers hat, and make some key decisions. None of the quarterbacks are signed for 2018. What would you do? If they were all healthy, who would you go with the rest of the year?

Adam Thielen is a wide receiver with the Minnesota Vikings. The path that led him, to be a starter, for the Vikings, plays like a movie. I have always had a special interest in Thielen, because he comes from Detroit Lakes, MN, which is summer resort town, in the state, of 10,000 lakes. My grandparents lived there, as well as aunts , uncles, and cousins, so I spent a lot of time there, during summertime.

I heard about this kid, who was an exceptional athlete in town, from my realtives. I started following him on the internet. He had a good career, in high school, being named all conference, and all state.

He ended up going to Mankato State, where he was redshirted. He improved each year, catching 74 passes, for 1,176 yards in his senior year. The Minnesota Vikings held their summer camps at Mankato State, so Thielen always hung around, during camp, being a ball boy etc. and got to know the Viking staff. He was not invited to the NFL Combine, so he attended an open tryout with the Vikings. They signed him to the practice squad.
He then moved up, to the regular team, as a member of the special teams. He worked hard everyday, and when an opportunity came, because of an injury to Stephon Diggs, he become next man up. He performed well, and became a starter in 2016, catching 67 passes for 967 yards. Prior to the start of the 2017 season, he signed a 4 year, $19 million contract.

Back in his high school days, Thielen’s hero was the Viking’s Cris Carter. He tried to mimic his pass patterns, and routines, and now he is playing for the Vikings and being a hero to many youngsters, just like he admired Cris Carter.

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Tampa Bay Bucs 34 – 17 , on Sunday. I was certainly impressed, by Minnesota backup Quarterback Case Keenum. He threw for 369 yards, 2 touchdowns, and no interceptions, and more importantly he had success with the long ball. He threw 11 passes over 20 yards, connecting on 7.

I have to admit, I didn’t know much about Keenum, except he had been with several teams, as a backup. I googled him, and was surprised I had forgotten, what a great college career he had.

He starred at the University of Houston, where he still holds most NCAA career passing records, including:

I’ve said in various earlier posts, that for the most part, if you want to know how a player will play for your team; look at his past. As a blogger, I can say, those players are who we thought they were.

The Minnesota Vikings played their first pre-season game against the Buffalo Bills. They continue to be plagued by inept O-line play. Last year was a disaster, but optimism prevailed as they made some off season moves, and drafted a great prospect from Ohio State. Their on field performance against the Bills, saw no change from their 2016 collapse.

They signed free agent Riley Reiff to a long term contract, for more than $11.7 million annually (Total contract is $58,000 million). The average salary for the NFL’s Offensive line is $ 1.7 Million. That makes Riley the 2nd highest paid Viking, behind Sam Bradford. He’s making more than Griffen, Rhodes, Smith, & Joseph. Does that make sense?? He did start for Detroit, but was criticized for his play, and no attempt was made to keep him. Therefore the Vikings rode with their white hats, into Detroit, with saddlebags full of money …

The Vikings also signed free agent Mike Remmers, from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for over $ 6 Million (Total contract is for $30 Million). Prior to that, he was with a couple of teams, including the Vikings, who cut him. Obviously, Tampa didn’t want him, so guess who charged into picture, with big money??

Let’s not forget Adam Boone, who signed last year as a free agent, for over $ 7 million annually (total contract is for over $28 million. If he played half as good, as he talks, he’d already be in the Hall of Fame.

The power egos of the Vikings have a philosophy, that if you pay a player more. he will be better. I strongly disagree. How did Koren Robinson, Bernard Berrian, & Michael Williams work for you??

If a team wants to make the playoffs, it all starts with the O-Line. If you can’t protect the quarterback, he can’t pass effectively. With the mid-range passes, and long range passes, not part of the offensive strategy, the defenses add players to the box, which limits your running game. It’s not that difficult!!!!

It was reported on July 17th, 2017 in the Minneapolis StarTribune that the Grand Poo-Bah Zygi with his lapdog, Lester was irked that the new Chairman of the Metropolitan Sports Facility Authority (MSFA), Mike Vekich, had turned over control, of the 2 suites, to SMG, the stadium operator. Those 2 suites were designated at the outset, as sales and marketing tools, for the MSFA, to market the new stadium, for non-football use; ie concerts, soccer, Xgames, and home shows. The Vikings feel they should get any monies, that come from the use of those suites. Some key facts on this:

Vikings insist that they gifted those 2 suites to the MSFA. You can’t gift something you don’t own.

The state of Minnesota and the city of Minneapolis owns the stadium. Not the underworld Wilfs.

The MSFA, along with the SMG run the US Bank stadium, not Zygi.

This is just the latest, in a long list of demands to fleece money, from the ticket holders, and residents of Minnesota, such as:

A seat license fee, of up to $10,000 per seat, in addition to the per game ticket price.

He followed that up with a tailgating fee of $ 600 per year.

Zygi, the winer, and Lester the lapdog somehow negotiated a deal, that gives the Vikings, all the revenue from the new parking ramp, across the street, from the new stadium. What makes this a true WTF moment, is that the state owns it, and sold naming rights to Mills Fleet Farm.

Then they began selling paver bricks for up to $360 each. They adorn space under the Viking ship.

Zygi must stay up late at night, to come up with plots to squeeze more money, out of Minnesota and the Viking fans. What could be next? A toilet fee; $25 to drop a load & $10 to urinate. How about a usage fee for using the roads, that lead to the stadium, on Sundays. How about an excise tax, on television viewership of the Vikings, on Sundays?

Laquon Treadwell was a major disappointment, to the Minnesota Vikings, and to me, in 2016. The reason I included myself, in the lofty position, equal to the Vikings, is because I had followed Treadwell since his high school days in Chicago, and felt he was the best college receiver I had ever seen.

A little history on Treadwell:

Played Quarterback as a freshman in high school, before switching to receiver.

Played defense all through high school, as well.

Named Illinois offensive Player of Year as a senior.

Named High School All American by Under Armour, USA Today, and Maxipreps.

Ranked the No.1 receiver in the country by Rivals, and 247Sports.

Committed to the University of Mississippi in November of 2012.

Named SEC freshman of the year, with 72 catches for 608 yards.

Having had a spectacular sophomore year through November, whileplaying against Auburn, he suffered a season ending broken leg, while catching a pass on the 1 yard line, that would have given them the victory, but he fumbled.

He came back for Junior year; had 82 catches for 1,153 yards.

After junior year, he opted for the NFL draft.

He was selected # 23 by the Minnesota Vikings, and not heard from again.

As you can see, he has the pedigree, and I am confident & hopeful that he will have a breakout season in 2017. I truly believe he just needs a little confidence. His work with Bradford will also payoff, as they have bonded more, coming into this season. They will also have a running game, to open up the passing game.